Chinese Word: 大材小用 - Talking Chinese English Dictionary

using a talented person in an insignificant position (idiom); a sledgehammer to crack a nut

1		zhēn shi 真是 dà cái xiǎo yòng 大材小用。 tā 他 yīng gāi 应该 qù 去 zuò 做 yì xiē 一些 gèng 更 zhòng yào 重要 de 的 gōng zuò 工作。 He should be used to doing more important jobs.
2		tā 他 jù bù 拒不 zuò 做 nà 那 gōng zuò 工作， shuō 说 nà 那 shì 是 dà cái xiǎo yòng 大材小用。 He refused the job, saying it would be (a) prostitution of his talents .
3		wèi shén me 为什么 tā 他 zǒng 总 xǐ huan 喜欢 bǎ 把 zì jǐ 自己 dà cái xiǎo yòng 大材小用 ne 呢？ Why does he always enjoy being a big fish in a small pond?
4		lì yòng 利用 yuē hàn 约翰 zuò 做 zhè xiàng 这项 róng yì 容易 de 的 gōng zuò 工作 shì 是 dà cái xiǎo yòng 大材小用。 It's a waste of John to employ him on this easy work.
5		dàn shì 但是 jiù cǐ 就此 gōng zuò 工作， tā men 他们 rèn wéi 认为 wǒ 我 zī lì 资历 guò 过 gāo 高， dà cái xiǎo yòng 大材小用。 But they decided I was overqualified for the job.

1		zhēn shi 真是 dà cái xiǎo yòng 大材小用。 tā 他 yīng gāi 应该 qù 去 zuò 做 yì xiē 一些 gèng 更 zhòng yào 重要 de 的 gōng zuò 工作。 He should be used to doing more important jobs.
2		tā 他 jù bù 拒不 zuò 做 nà 那 gōng zuò 工作， shuō 说 nà 那 shì 是 dà cái xiǎo yòng 大材小用。 He refused the job, saying it would be (a) prostitution of his talents .
3		wèi shén me 为什么 tā 他 zǒng 总 xǐ huan 喜欢 bǎ 把 zì jǐ 自己 dà cái xiǎo yòng 大材小用 ne 呢？ Why does he always enjoy being a big fish in a small pond?
4		lì yòng 利用 yuē hàn 约翰 zuò 做 zhè xiàng 这项 róng yì 容易 de 的 gōng zuò 工作 shì 是 dà cái xiǎo yòng 大材小用。 It's a waste of John to employ him on this easy work.
5		dàn shì 但是 jiù cǐ 就此 gōng zuò 工作， tā men 他们 rèn wéi 认为 wǒ 我 zī lì 资历 guò 过 gāo 高， dà cái xiǎo yòng 大材小用。 But they decided I was overqualified for the job.